Illuminated clock.



H. KIENZLE'.

lLLUMlNATED CLOCK. APPLICATION FILED 0012a, 1914.

Patented June 22, 1915.

Witnejfles:

1 Z 2 t mK 0t 0 M HERBERT 'KIENzLE, of NEW YORK, N. Y.

ILLUMINATED CLOCK.

Specification. of Letters'latent. Patented June 22, 1915.

Applicationfiled October 28, 1914. Seria1'No.868,956.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, HERBERT :KIENZLE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Clocks, 'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clocks and especially to means for" illuminating-clocks used as dormitory or bed-room clocks.

With the normal methods of illuminating bed-room clocks, the lamp is Separated from -'ter defect, shades may, of course, be used,

and would be required. I

In view of the foregoing, it is aimed, among the main objects of this invention, to provide a means for illuminating clocks especially adapted for illuminating, dormitory or bed-room clocks, which means will be completely concealed from view and thus out of danger of being injured when dusting or cleaning the clock, which means will not require a separate support, and which means will be so positioned-that it will prop;

erly illuminate the dial of the clock and yet not shock the eyes and at the same time not require any shades for such purpose. 'To this end, a .translucent'dial which 'may be made of" ground glass, celluloid, paper or other clear glass is arranged to form the/dial or face of the clock, and there is disposedimmediately behind the said dial. any suit-- able illuminating means that may be -instantly controlled at the will of the operator either near the clock or' any desired distance therefrom so that when the illuminating meansis inoperation, the light will shine through the said dlal and by reason. of the numerals on the face of ,said, dial being printed in an opaque color, it. more readily renders the said numerals readable by reason of the contrast Special features of the invention are the adaptability of the same to known clocks on the market, and also the fact that the appearance of a clock will not be altered by equipping'it with this illuminating means.

Other features, capabilities, and advantages of theinvention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front elevation of a clock equipped with the present invention, certain portions of the same being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, certain portions being "broken away; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing. the wire connection with the'battery and lamp.

In 'theembodiment shown, the clockworks l of a clock is housed in a cylindrical casing 2 which is located in the upper portion of an upright'housing 3 having a front wall 4, a rear wall 5 and two side walls 6, in the upper portion of which front wall 4 there is provided a circular opening 7 to receive the translucent or transparent face or dial 8 of the clock. Beneath the clockworks of such upright clocks, there is generally a free useless space forming a chamber 9. In the present invention, advantage is taken of this otherwise useless chamber 9 and the illumi nating means are located therein. Preferably a dry battery lO'of standard type is used which has a spring contact plate 11 startingfrom one side of the battery and extending adjacent to the upper end thereof, and a fixed contact plate 12 extending up from. the upper end of. and near the other side of said battery. A strap 13 made of any suitable electric insulating material such as p'a'steboard, is provided of a size sufspring contact plate 11 when the strap is properly positioned onsaid battery.

' In the present instance, the cylindrical casing 2 in its lower portion 'near the trans- "lucent dial 8 is provided with an opening 17. When the lamp is secured in position on said battery, the battery may be positioned in said chamber 9 adjacent to the wall 4, being frictionally held in such position by a fiat spring 18 secured at one end 19 to the rear wall 5,continu1ng in a resilient loop 20 disposed between the rear wall and the battery, and the other end of said loop continuing into an elongated flat portion 21 that is disposed adjacent to the side of the battery, and terminating in a bent finger portion 22 at its upper end to engage the upper edge of the battery 10. In such position, the lamp on the battery will extend through the opening-17, and be disposed just rearwardly of the lower end of the dial 8.

For connecting the lamp and battery with the switch handle 23, wires are provided which are suitably covered, one wire 24 being connected to the fixed contact plate .12 and the other wire 25 to the socket 15 of the strap 13, the free ends of said wires 2% and 25 terminating in suitable contacts 26 and 27 respectively (Fig. 3) located in the switch handle 23, and operable by the button 28 on said switch handle. These Wires 24 and 25 pass out of said chamber 9- flanges 31 to engage the walls of the ehamher 9 and thereby frictionally hold said base member in position, this base. member also assisting to support said battery 10 in posi tion. It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim:

'1. In combination with an upright clock having a housing, clockworks supported in the upper portionof said housing, there bemg an opening in the upper portion of said housing adjacent to said clockworks, a translucent clock dial positioned in said openmg, the housing forming a chamber beneath said clockworks, a battery disposed in said chamber, a lamp connected to said battcry and disposed adjacent to, and rearwardly of said dial to be lighted by said battery, and a base member-for closing the bottom of said housing, said base member havmg flanges for engaging said housing thereby to be frictionally held in place and supporting said battery in place.

2. In combination with an upright clock having a housing, clockworks supported in the upper portion of said housing, there bemg an opening 1n the upper portion of said housing adjacent to said clockworks, a trans-.

lucent clock dial positioned in said opening,

the housing forming a chamber beneath said clockworks, a battery disposed in said cham her, a lamp connected to said battery and disposed adjacent to, and rearwardly of said the battery to frictionally hold said battery in place, and a base member for closing the bottom of said housing, said base member having flanges for engaging said housing thereby to be frictionally held in place and assisting in holding said battery in place.

3. In combination with an upright clock having a housing, a casing positioned in the upper portion of said housing, clockworks housed in said casing, there being a transparent dial opening near the upper portion of said housing adjacent to said casing, a clock dial positioned in said dial opening, the housing forming a chamber beneath said casing,'there being a lamp openingin the lower side of said casing adjacent to and rearwardly of said dial, a battery disposed in said chamber, a lamp connected to said battery and extending through saidlamp opening and being disposed just rearwardly of the lower edge of said dial, and wires connected to said battery and lamp whereby said lamp may be lighted.

4. In combination with an upright clock and housing, a casing positioned in the upper portion of said housing, clockworks housed in said casing, there being a translucent dial opening near the upper portion of said housing and adjacent to said casing,

a clock dial positioned in said dial opening,

the housing forming a chamber beneath said -casing, there being a lamp opening in the lower side of said casing adjacent to and rearwardly of said dial, a battery disposed in said chamber, a lamp connected to said battery and extending through said lamp opening and being disposed just rearwardly of the lower edge of said dial, wires connectedto said battery and lamp, there being a. wire opening through said housing through which said wires pass outwardly, and a switch handle connected to the free ends of said wires extending out of said housing by the manipulation of which handle said lamp maybe lighted.

HERBERT KIENZLE.

Witnesses:

GUSTAV Dnnws, H. D. PENNEY. 

